"The Galosh"

"The Galosh" is a short, humorous story by Anton Chekhov that explores the absurdity of social pretensions. It centers on a young man who, to impress others, decides to purchase and wear a flashy, expensive shoe cover called a galosh. However, his attempt at sophistication is undermined when he faces a minor mishap, revealing his pretensions as insubstantial. The story uses humor and irony to comment on how people often try to appear more important or stylish than they truly are, highlighting the tension between appearance and reality in social behavior.